LOCH NESS MOUSE, THE
III

The Loch Ness Mouse celebrate 30 years as a band and release a new album to coincide with the anniversary. Album III completes the trilogy that began with the self-titled record from 2016 and was followed up by II in 2019 (both also released on the well-respected Japanese label P-Vine). Where the first was the tight and elaborate pop record, the next one more moody and atmospheric, the new record is possibly a bit more extreme, free-spirited and cheerful.
Together, the trilogy nevertheless gives a coherent picture of what has been the band's project for the past ten years: melodic and sophisticated pop from a working-class perspective, with strong elements of soul and jazz, based on the songwriting of the brothers Jørn and Ole Johannes Åleskjær. The new album features, among others, ex-member Hilma Nikolaisen and jazz/contemporary names such as Morten Barrikmo (Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, Oslo Sinfonietta) and Lars Tormod Jenset (Espen Eriksen Trio).